Podium Taekwondo

(5 reviews)

8.3 mi

My daughter has attended this dojang for about two years since she was 6 and we'd still be going…read morehere if we didn't need to move. But move we did... so it's about time I leave a review. It's located on Bellaire next to Pollo Campero in a slightly run down orange retail center. It's hard to miss once you see it. They do have a shared parking lot with a handicap spot right in front of the dojang but parking can be tight during busy times like belt tests or larger classes. They offer a 1-week trial period, which is ideal. In my opinion, trial classes are mandatory before joining a new dojang just to see if it's a good fit but if it's only one class, it's merely a peek. One week - if you can make it to multiple classes - will give you exposure to most of the other students and instructors you will meet and is more accurate. There are several martial arts places in the area, but this one won based on value but also the atmosphere. They offer unlimited classes for the monthly membership cost as long as you attend the classes for your age group (ages 4 and up), they don't pressure you to compete and has a more supportive and relaxed feel so you can go at your own pace. The classes aren't very crowded either so you sometimes get more attention to work on things you need to work on. You have the option to apply for a belt test every 3 months so that's not rushed either, so this place is definitely not a McDojo. They do provide a handbook that outlines all the testing material for each belt so you're not going in blind and they'll focus on testing material leading up to it, helpful for the students that don't attend as many classes. The other students are pretty good sports overall. Females are in the minority and my daughter is small for her age but she never really felt left out by the other boys. Master Derek and the other instructors are knowledgeable and personable. They teach WTF taekwondo here from stances, kicks, blocks, punches, and poomsae to footwork, breaking, kicking combinations, self defense, and sparring (though no weapons so far). They also teach the five tenets of taekwondo. I even joined the adult classes when I had time though very casually (more for exercise) and I didn't feel pressured to go any further (though there's always encouragement). It was fun and Kim's Olympic Taekwondo felt like a second home with how often we were there. Both my daughter and I miss them but there were some pretty great memories. Fun fact: Master Derek has a background in physical therapy so that's a plus while practicing a contact sport... especially once you pass a certain age. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to learn taekwondo, whether or not you're a beginner. Or at least try out a few trial classes to see if you'll love this place as much as we did.

I am a proud student of Kim's School of Tae Kwon Do for nearly 2 yrs. Master Kim is one of the most…read moregenuine and kindest people I have ever met. Her knowledge of Tae Kwon Do goes beyond measure, but her attitude and persistence in her teachings and encouragement is second to none. Although, I consider myself a well-rounded athlete, I have never been pushed both mentally and physically as much as I have here. What I love most about the school is that each instructor has learned under Master Kim and developed his or her own unique way of leading a class. The school not only challenges me physically and mentally, but it is fulfilling in a cultural, social, and therapeutic way. I highly recommend this school to any ages and all levels!

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Master Lee's World TaeKwonDo

4.6

(22 reviews)

5.9 mi

This school is fantastic and Master Rick and his staff are excellent in every way…read moreMy daughter and I both attend this school and the instruction is both fun and professional. Joining this school has been one of the best things we have done as a family.

Never called me back about opening to book my son and told me some story but never unprofessionalread more

Talium Tigers & Children Program

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Best Gift For Yourself and Your Children!!!

Young Brothers Taekwondo

9.4 mi

My son started to train here more than a year ago. His sparring skills improved from 0 to 60 in a…read moreshort amount of time. Thanks to Giselle Giambi for the patience and dedication to share her wealth of experience both in local and national competitions. Even if we have to travel longer, what my son gains from this school is worth it. It is a privilege to be under GM Mark Giambi, who is a well respected name in taekwondo in Houston. Master Kim Giambi, who is the heart of the school, is very friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended!

From the owner: Looking for a new Martial Arts School? Young Brothers Taekwondo is located in Houston, TX. Our…read moreschool teaches taekwondo to individuals ranging from the tot level at age 4 through adult level classes. Our instructors will instill confidence in your children while boosting their self-esteem and assisting with a well-rounded workout. Take our class and get in shape while learning to defend yourself! Call today to schedule your first class.

Saturday Advanced Kids Class

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Houston Martial Arts Academy

(3 reviews)

7.5 mi

HMAA has been such an awesome addition to my fitness journey! It's helped me be more confident, and…read moreit's also reconnected me to my Filipino roots in a really meaningful way. I've learned practical ways to defend myself with or without a weapon, and it's been so cool getting hands-on experience with knife and sword training. The guros are super knowledgeable and down-to-earth, and the whole community feels like family. Jason really cares about his students--you can tell he puts his heart into everything. If you're looking for a place to train, grow, and connect with culture, I can't recommend HMAA enough.

Great place to train. Patient and knowledgeable instructors. The atmosphere is low-key and friendly.read more

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Tiger J Kim's World Class Tae Kwon Do

3.8

(18 reviews)

19.4 mi

Consider what contract you sign and why you would even need a "Contract" to enroll in this…read more Providing your banking account info they will debit your account if money is there or not. Debit card would bounce if no money to cover request. If your child doesn't like it you are trapped paying for contract period.

Great Dojang, instructors are great and its such a cool place to hangout. Highly recommend this…read moreschool!

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The Houston Center For Taekwondo

3.0

(3 reviews)

3.3 mi

This is a long post but I'm trying to condense 7+ years into one post. I have taken every action to…read moretry to resolve my issues /concerns with Master Giambi but I am left with no option but to leave a negative review. My three children had concurrently attended HCT for 7+ years with one child 'testing and receiving' her first and even second degree black belts from HCT. She started when she was in kindergarten and was a student in HCT's first class of black belts. Her goal was to one day become an instructor there. Due to many adult teachers either leaving or being fired from HCT and being replaced by student instructors, we decided to go elsewhere. The communication and administration at HCT were not going well. As my daughter wanted to continue with Taekwondo and compete, we went to another school. When it was time to enroll, we informed the new school that she was a second degree black belt. The new school requested to see her official black belt card and certificate. This was when I realized that something was wrong. You see, we never received any of the official documentation. When she 'tested' for her first and second degree black belts, I was informed that she would be 'registered' as a black belt. I naturally assumed that she would be registered in an official database at either Kukiwon or World Taekwondo Federation or some global TKD organization. This wasn't the case so I emailed Master Giambi three times requesting to have a face-to-face meeting. He didn't respond to any of my emails. Then, in between kids coming home and driving them to different activities, I drove to HCT in hopes of meeting with Master Giambi. Another adult teacher informed me that he was only available between 4-5PM so I went there to speak with him and the first two times, he wasn't there. Each time I went, I asked the instructor to have him call me so that we can schedule a meeting and I wouldn't have to drive there. No call was received. Then, today, on my third try to meet him, he was there and I was able to ask my questions about HCT's black belt testing. His demeanor was not helpful at all. I was trying to give him to the benefit of the doubt, emailed 3 times, drove to his school 3 times and I left frustrated, angry and disappointed. Apparently, the expensive black belt testing fee is only for their school. The records of students receiving black belts are not registered anywhere outside of HCT. I asked him what we were paying for through the fee and he simply said it was for their black best testing. He even said that they didn't even 'need' the official card or certificate. If I had known all this from the start, I would not have placed my children at HCT. If you are just looking for a place for your children to exercise, this place would fit the bill but if you are looking long-term and to have your children get their black belt and beyond, I would advise you to reconsider signing your kids up at HCT.

Great teachers and great program. I just wish that they followed some COVID precautions. But, sadly…read morethey don't. No social distancing and there are absolutely no mask requirements.

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Spring Branch Tae Kwon Do

4.8

(4 reviews)

3.3 mi

I don't want to Tae you down to reading this review so feel free to skip it if you want…read more This Taekwondo Studio has moved here, and has the same address now as the dollar store, so I thought that... Okay I'm leaving so you can give it to me I was going to get it anyway I said I didn't mean to say I'm late I'm late in my own world I'm leaving now so I was going to get it anyway but thanks. Not sure what that was. Thanks voice dictation. So if you want some good Taekwondo classes and teachers, this is where you might come for it. Barbi sat in on classes and agrees they're very professional as well.

My daughter is a student of Master Mutters. The location has also moved to Long Point Road…read more This doja has become my 13 year old daughter's most favorite place to be. She has met a lot of friendly kids and has gained so much confidence, pride, and athletic skill since beginning her lessons in August. She works out HARD, but willingly does her very best. Classes are inexpensive. We pay under $160 per month and that gives her two classes and one sparring lesson per week. That's 12 classes per month. I highly recommend checking this place out. I've seen all age groups: Younger kids, tweens and teens. I think there are some adult classes, but we've not gone to them (she is much too young). There is a team, but she's new and wasn't confident to try out for the team just yet. Maybe next year!

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Kims White Tiger

7.3 mi

Master Kim is amazing And teaches my som well highly recommend this place for taekwondoread more

Great place to learn martial arts my daughter and I earned our Black Belts after 4 years of…read moretraining , instructor are from Korea which meant a lot to me since that is the home of taekwondo, 51 years old and feeling ready for anything

Green belt class

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Fun times!

Apex Tae Kwon Do

6.4 mi

We love this place! The instructors are very attentive to our son and he really enjoys going…read more Just wish the classes were about 15 mins longer for the little ones (currently, they are 30 mins). Love that it is in the neighborhood and that most of the staff and parents are still masked up!

Excellent martial arts school led by Grand Master Mark Giambi. My son has been going for 4 years…read moreand my husband is also a student. Focus on discipline, fitness and learning skills for life. Great hands on Black Belt instructors. It's made a significant impact on building confidence and learning respect. Classes can be taken 6 days a week so it leaves a lot of flexibility instead of having to commit to a certain day. Two week intro is $39.95 and includes a free uniform.

Kids class kicking practice

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K Taekwondo

(2 reviews)

27.5 mi

It's been five years now. The taekwondo gym has grown incredibly. When my kids started here, I…read moredidn't realize it was fairly new (literally first year). Many of the students were from Balli's waiting for him to open. Now, as a testament to Grand Master Ahn and his staff, there is probably 60 black belts (45 kids, about 15 teen/adults). Within those, probably about a dozen moving up to second degree black belts. The color belt classes have anywhere between 15-20 kids. Although retention for martial arts is especially challenging (especially high school age), he has done significantly well as is demonstrated by the sheer numbers. What to expect from class: 5-6 minutes stretching, 20 minutes focused on group workouts (cardio, drills, etc). The last 20 minutes is focused on belt specific requirements. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons have Women's Self Defense classes, which include the TKD belt requirements and self defense techniques. Their drills include grappling, breaking holds, and knife defense skills. These are generally taught by Master Anthony. Along the line if additional options available from K-Taekwondo include K-Tribe (morning workouts which varies daily: includes yoga, HIIT, outdoor boot camp, and barre). This is with instructor Gail. Taekwondo purists, this is both in my to scoff at. Gail's yoga workouts are no joke, she makes black belts cry. Saturdays are staying busy too with the addition of Gumdo, traditional Korean Swords classes. This is taught by Master Anthony, 5th Degree Black Belt in TKD and Gumdo.

My daughter took a year of Taekwondo with Master Ahn and it was amazing to watch my shy little girl…read morestart to open up and gain confidence while learning martial arts. Master Ahn has great classroom control and is strong on form and technique, but he also emphasizes good values and works with parents and teachers to encourage (and require) respect, discipline, self control, cleanliness, good study etc. The students all respect him, but he's also very friendly and personable. His studio is clean and bright. Highly recommend this studio and instructor.

Are You Still Here?

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Are You Still Here?

Space Adventure

4.5

(13 reviews)

11.1 mi

this is such a great playground to bring children!…read more the layout of the playground is though, yet whimsical. it's mostly shaded, and there is a splash pad area on super hot days. be safe. have fun

I can't believe that I have come down to the zoo numerous times and never took a little stroll down…read moreand came to this play area. Granted, you would probably be exhausted at the zoo unless you put a timer on like I do, so that we don't all have meltdowns, but I digress. But I am really happy to come across this play area. Was it weird walking up and down the rolling hills of the playground with a stroller? Absolutely. But would I do it again? Absolutely. I really love how they had a rubber ground for the patrons to walk on because I'm really sick of the wood chips. I'm not sure who started putting shards of wood under our children when they play, but I'm over it. We came here on one of the handful of nice weather days weekend down here in Houston. I'm not sure how hot the playground would be during the summer, because a lot of the material here is metal, but I would definitely check it out again!

Space Adventure Playground

Lift off

Space Park!

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Noah's Ark Pool

3.8

(17 reviews)

6.1 mi

We had a great time attending a friend's 6th birthday party here. The kids all had a lot of fun!…read moreThey just remodeled the Noah's Ark area earlier this year. There was no actual swimming in the Noah's Ark area because the water areas are all shallow, so it's a place where even babies and toddlers can play- just need to watch out for kids running around and still need to watch the really little ones to make sure they don't drown.

She was really disrespectful. She was like you know I work for tips, I meal was $13.38 and I left…read moreno tip because am poor with no job on top of it, so don't come up to me and ask for tip lady it very disrespectful and wrong you get paid no matter what. Also want to say that my sister is military and that's how she got treated. And that's how they're going to treat their US Coast guards. I feel like they deserve a one star.

Remodeled Noah's Ark water play area- lots of water spraying features

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Sylvan Beach

(105 reviews)

33.8 mi

The park by the beach was huge and there was a lot of ample parking space in the parking lot.It had…read morebeen a while since we went to sylvan beach.The last time we were here before the 4th of July this year,they only had the pier so I was very impressed with what they have done. Another plus was free wifi!!

Nice local beach close to Houston to go for a walk and see some water seagulls and fish…read more We saw a few dolphins and lots of flying fish on their pier. The last time we visited was for the Sylvan Beach triathlon and it was just as tranquil today. Parking: plentiful Bathrooms: available and clean Return: most likely

View of the fishing walkway during sunrise c:

The view of the water.

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Slingshot kinda wknd

Candeeland

4.4

(18 reviews)

21.2 mi

The stars are based off how much fun my 4 year old had do what you want with that. The place was…read moreclean. It was not super crowded when we went so that was a plus. You MUST have grip socks or you have to buy some. Parents you have to take shoes off or wear their shoe covers! Helps them keep the floor clean for the kids. The only thing is they have so much stuff on the side that requires you to keep swiping your card if you let your kid play. So he'd get upset bc I wasn't paying for every little extra game we did get some cute photobooth pics.

Compared to similar spots, and taking price into consideration, this spot is underwhelming. There's…read morea lot of wear and tear on the play structures. The ball pit has a cute air machine that should shoot out the balls but it's worn out and doesn't produce enough air to do what it's suppose to. A merry-go-rounding is worn and two swing units have apparently broken so they just left them off instead of replacing them. The ball out seems to be halfway empty of balls and the flooring is bubbling up in dozens of spots. Four stars because kids will have fun anywhere. Staff was nice and we got half price vouchers.

The air remains for the ball too, does not work

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Evelyn's Park

(54 reviews)

9.3 mi

We went to the park for a small farmer's market that didn't happen so we walked around and looked…read moreat the sights and i noticed a beam from the fallen World Trade Center Towers. Took a few pics and i'll post them here to help people remember.....

I am on a mission to visit all the cool parks in Houston and today we decided to take the drive…read more Once we arrived we had to figure out where the extra parking was located at the church but once we did we were ready to have fun In this beautiful day. My niece had a great time. The park is well spaced out and plenty of things for kids to do. The only draw back is not at fault of the park,it is in fault of the parents of the children at the park. I had to tell one little boy twice it to throw a big stick over the slide. All in all this is a cute park tucked inside of Bellaire.

Good morning, Evelyn's Park

Betsy's At Evelyn's Park

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Mushrooms

Lovebug's Playground

4.7

(17 reviews)

7.6 mi

Lovebugs is great! We have come here when the weather is too hot, too wet, or too cold to be…read moreoutside. We've come when the kids have had wayyyy to much screen time and they can have a nice clean place to do some creative play and a clean bathroom to use when they will inevitabily need to poop or pee! This studio is only for children 5 and under though and must wear socks in the play area. Check it out if your kid is needing somewhere clean and nice to play.

This is a great indoor playground for young children. My granddaughter loves this place and the…read moreprice is reasonable.

Check in desk, shop, and snack/sitting area

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More toys

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Corinne S.

0

1

0

12 years ago

My kids went in a year ago, and my youngest was a mess. He could not sit, listen, or do anything. It was hard to watch, but Master Jesus was calm and patient with me trying to be involved too much, and my kid that now he is amazing! I cannot believe the transformation in him, I am a proud mom. He is now an example in classes, on the competition team, has will power, confidence and so so much more. I am so happy that I found this place and put him in there. It is small place, but a great place to be. read more

Claudia E.

36

1

9 years ago

Podium Tkd is the best school in the area... I see people talking about Groupon things but not about the great services, programs, masters, etc.. so facebook can help you with more information about this school!!! if you problem is the prices i think this school is not for you!! there is focus In give you the best services... if you looking for sometime different look in other places!! ;) read more

Sonia R.

0

1

0

12 years ago

Great martial art school for family and friends!

Podium Taekwondo - taekwondo - Updated August 2026

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This business was closed in a day I made reservations to come to a class. I was never notified if…read morethis, and I ended up loosing credits on ClassPass as well as time in driving out there. I was very disappointed in the lack of proper communication

Active Jiu Jitsu

I was in town again for a work trip, however this time I wanted to train at school that was close…read moreto my hotel and I found Active Jiu Jitsu. This school looks exactly how it looks, welcoming, friendly, and family oriented. When I walked in Professor Rose welcomed me and introduced me to Professor Dentinho. He led a great class on half guard passing and after I was able to roll with the members. After class, I spoke to a few of the members and they were all friendly and was happy I stopped by. The class was great and I had great training partners during our rolls. I highly recommend this school for locals AND visitors. When I do return in the future, I plan visit Professor and his team at Active Jiu Jitsu! THANK YOU!

Houston Karate Academy

Our sons both studied and earned their black belts at the Houston Karate Academy. Their program is…read morerigorous and includes sparring, which not all do. They teach discipline, mental and physical, respect, and how to handle yourself in an actual fight. However, most importantly, they teach how to be strong while also learning to avoid conflict whenever possible. Respect, de-escalation, actual fighting skills and disciplined preparedness are probably the the phrases that come to mind first describing this dojo.

HKA has the best kid and adult programs including for special needs. Grandmaster Cunningham is…read morededicated to providing a safe and respectful class for all students. My son was a student from the age of four and is now an adult blackbelt as am I. This school had a positive impact on us. Also, when my son was bullied at school it gave him the confidence and skill to defend himself without being confrontational. We highly recommend HKA.

Shudokan Aikido

I have always loved martial art so when I found this wonderful place I knew my kids would love it…read moretoo. After an hour of training my kids are more collected in their thoughts and actions. The calm and respectful environment is hard to find but I found mine. And the price $50 3 x week is the lowest I have seen in years. We have been here for 3 year and price is the same. Like I said great, honest and loving people. Recommend it to all. Kids are from 6 years and older, we tried joining at 5 but there was no partner for us. And we where not ready either. This is an Olympic sport after all.

Impact Kickboxing

3.7

Impact Kickboxing Cardio isn't a professional environment for children nor adults. This place…read morecondones bullying and violent behavior that is morally wrong, and they accept and allow it during both kid and adult classes. The coach says that he is here to teach the kids how to defend themselves from bullies in the real world, but yet allows the kids to bully each other during the kickboxing class. I've witnessed firsthand on several occasions the coach allowing the kids to hit each other full force without stopping it once it escalates to something more serious. Another thing to note is that the headgear isn't mandatory or enforced at this facility. A child is more susceptible to get a concussion when they don't have headgear, which can negatively impact a child causing chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damaging their brain cells. His class motto is "If they hit you hard you hit them just as hard or harder back." I brought my kids to this facility for them to learn self-defense in a safe healthy environment. I didn't sign my kids up so they could feel scared or attacked by their fellow colleagues. This is supposed to be a healthy learning experience, not a place they fear. My daughter was put to spar against a boy twice her size, and her opponent would fight to try and hurt her not caring if he hit her too hard. His mission was to ultimately hurt her if he was given the chance. The coach doesn't think this kind of mentality is wrong. The coach would pair kids up this way during class not caring if the kids were of the opposite sex or bigger than the other or not on the same kickboxing experience level as the other. And as if bullying and violent behavior amongst the kids weren't enough, you also see parents on the sidelines yelling at their kids to behave in an overly aggressive manner. Parent's are allowed to yell and coach their kids to hit others in the face without limitations. This can negatively impact the children by making them feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, insecure, humiliated, and give them anxiety. The coach should be ensuring that this place is a place of fun, and skill development, not condoning bullying and violence. The parents should be supporting their kids in a positive manner, not bashing them from the sidelines. Coach Jeremy doesn't recognize the difference between guiding the children and verbally mistreating them during class. So with that being said this is NOT a place I'd recommend if you're looking for professionalism and a safe learning experience.

Jeremy takes his time to teach you what to and how to have good form. If you are serious about…read moregetting fit. Jeremy will help you. I do semi private training. We love it and Jeremy. He is tough but is there to push you and help you.

The Bellaire Shoppe

This is an excellent Taekwondo dojang run by Master Frank Santarose. He is very experienced and…read moreworks as well with young children as he does with adults. If you are experienced in TKD or brand new, this is a great place to train.

KMA Taekwondo Hapkido

(2 reviews)

As a 52 year old I am definitely feeling the need for training to maintain not just strength and…read moreflexibility but mobility - especially my lower back and hips. His advice has been very valuable in keeping me healthy!

Our 5 yr old grandson attends KMA and has done so well. We have seen wonderful results such as…read moregreater self-control, emotional growth, confidence and respectfulness. The disciplines taught at KMA are impactful and help in all areas of life. And the leaders are great role models!!

Kim's Olympic Tae Kwon Do Academy